"Mr. Daytona" Set For Daytona Return

By Cycle News Staff | 2/22/2011 2:44 PM

Scott Russell will return to the race place that helped make him famous when he throws his leg over a Harley-Davidson XR1200 to do battle in the AMA Pro Racing Vance & Hines XR1200 Series opener at Daytona International Speedway, March 10-11.The man known as "Mr. Daytona" for his record five victories in the Daytona 200 will ride a Harley Owners Group (HOG)-backed XR clad in his traditional number 4. The race will be Russell's first AMA Pro race at Daytona since he retired from the series in 2002.Russell, the 1992 AMA Superbike Champion and 1993 World Superbike Champion, also has past connections to Harley-Davidson as he rode the factory VR1000 1999 and 2000 in the AMA Superbike Series.

"I'm excited to get on one of those Harley XRs," said Russell in a Harley release. "I ran some endurance races last year and I think I still have some gas left in the tank. It will be fun to race with the rest of the guys at Daytona and hopefully run up front."In addition to Russell, the Vance & Hines XR1200 class has attracted a field of riders that will include the likes of 2007 Daytona 200 winner Steve Rapp (Parts Unlimited), former AMA Flat Track Champion Joe Kopp (Latus Racing) Michael Beck (J&P Cycles), brothers Kyle Wyman (RMR/Bruce Rossmeyer's Daytona Racing) and Travis Wyman (Harv's Harley-Davidson), Michael Barnes (Drag Specialites) and more.